Microsoft 365 Copilot: what each feature does

Key insights

• Work IQ lets Copilot use Microsoft 365 work context such as email, files, Teams chats and meetings.
• Switch Work IQ off when you want a general answer that does not use your work context.
• Temporary chat is not saved in your visible chat history, but organizational retention rules may still apply.
• Auto chooses a response mode; Quick response favors speed, while Think deeper takes longer.
• Chat can use attached files, optional capabilities and connected data sources to focus its response.

Microsoft 365 Copilot brings Chat, Work IQ, Search, Library, Agents, Notebooks and task features together in one work-focused experience. It matters to employees learning where to start, and to IT teams helping people understand the difference between the work Copilot and the personal Copilot app. Jonathan Edwards demonstrates the interface and its settings using a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

What it does

Copilot is presented as a set of tools rather than a menu every user needs to master immediately. Chat is the main place to ask questions and get answers, while other areas support finding previous work, organizing context or handling longer jobs. The demonstration recommends starting with Chat and adding other features when a task calls for them.

A central control is Work IQ. When enabled, it can use Microsoft 365 context such as email, files, Teams chats and meetings, as well as the web, to make an answer specific to the user’s work. For example, a request to draft a message based on an earlier agreement can draw on relevant work information instead of relying only on text typed into the prompt.

Users can turn Work IQ off for a general answer or when they do not want work context included in a task such as drafting public-facing content. Copilot also offers Auto, Quick response and Think deeper response modes. Auto selects a mode based on the prompt; Quick response prioritizes speed, while Think deeper takes longer for more involved questions.

Who it is for and what you need

The walkthrough is aimed at Microsoft 365 users who have been given Copilot and need an orientation to its controls. Its examples use a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Edwards notes that people without that license might not see all of the options shown, so the demonstration does not establish which features are included with other plans.

The Copilot work experience can be opened in a browser at m365.cloud.microsoft, and the transcript also describes access through Microsoft 365 apps and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on a computer or phone. Check that the interface identifies the account as Work; the demonstration distinguishes it from the separate personal Copilot app. It does not give a full licensing matrix, tenant rollout details or regional availability.

Some settings depend on organizational choices. The model selector may show different providers depending on what an organization makes available, and the demo notes that an organization’s IT team decides which models users can select. The exact configuration required for every feature is not stated.

How it works

1. Open the work Copilot experience and confirm you are signed in with the correct work account. The demonstration identifies the work version in the interface and shows Enterprise data protection.
2. Start in Chat. Use the Work IQ control to decide whether Copilot should draw on Microsoft 365 work context, and choose Auto, Quick response or Think deeper for the response.
3. Use the plus button in the prompt box to provide material. Add content can point to Microsoft 365 items such as an email, meeting or file; upload files from the computer; or attach cloud files from OneDrive or SharePoint.
4. When useful, select an optional capability such as Research a topic, Analyze data or Generate an image. Chat with an agent brings an agent into the conversation, while Change data sources lets a user select a connected source shown in the interface.
5. Use the sidebar to return to saved chats. The demonstration says chats can be pinned, renamed, moved to a notebook or deleted. The check-mark icon opens Tasks for checking longer jobs or scheduled prompts.

Settings offer additional controls. Personalization includes instructions for how Copilot should respond and saved memories that users can review or delete. The walkthrough also shows controls for chat history and work insights, web search, notifications, shared prompts and links, agent permissions, and connected sources.

Temporary chat is another option for a conversation that should not appear in the user’s chat history or use memories and past chats. Scheduled prompts can be configured with a start time, days and end point, with an option to receive an email when a response is ready. These settings can help users choose how Copilot behaves, but they do not replace organizational policies.

Limitations and open questions

Temporary does not mean invisible. Edwards cautions that an organization’s retention rules may still preserve a copy for compliance, even when a chat is not saved in the user’s visible history. Users should not treat that mode as a way to keep information from their employer.

The demonstration shows that Work IQ can use work information; it does not explain every permission boundary or administrative control. It also does not document the licensing requirements for each menu, the availability of Cowork or other options across tenants, or how organizations configure connected sources. Those details should be checked against the organization’s own Copilot configuration.

The available transcript ends during the Chat walkthrough, although the description lists Search, Library, Agents, Notebooks, Tasks and Cowork as other tour topics. Detailed steps for those areas are not included here. This guide therefore focuses on the interface controls and Chat mechanics that the transcript actually describes.

Sources

• Jonathan Edwards’ Microsoft 365 Copilot walkthrough

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license to see these features?

The demonstration uses a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license and says people without it might not see all the options. It does not provide a complete licensing breakdown.

What does Work IQ do in Microsoft 365 Copilot?

When enabled, Work IQ lets Copilot use work context such as Microsoft 365 email, files, Teams chats and meetings. Turn it off when you want a general answer that does not use that context.

Is Microsoft 365 Copilot temporary chat private from my organization?

Not necessarily. Temporary chat is not saved in the visible chat history, but organizational retention rules may still preserve a copy.

What is the difference between Quick response and Think deeper?

Quick response prioritizes speed and is described for straightforward tasks. Think deeper takes longer and is intended for more involved questions; Auto chooses a mode based on the prompt.